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Establishing Visa and Foreign Visitor Processing Goals and the Task Force On Travel and Competitiveness Back to Top

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to improve visa and foreign visitor processing and travel promotion in order to create jobs and spur economic growth in the United States, while continuing to protect our national security, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.Policy. The travel and tourism industry is one of our Nation's leading service sectors and sources of exports. However, the U.S. market share of spending by international travelers fell from 17 percent to 11 percent of the global market from 2000 to 2010, more than a 30 percent decrease in our share of the global market. This decrease was due primarily to increased international competition, changing patterns in global development, and, to some degree, more stringent security requirements imposed after 2001. Given the importance of the travel and tourism industry to the U.S. economy and job creation, a coordinated policy, consistent with protecting our national security, is needed to support a prosperous and secure travel and tourism industry in the United States.

Steady progress has been made since 2010, when my Administration launched the National Export Initiative and the Travel Promotion Act was signed into law. While our processes for moving people and goods across our borders are now both more secure and more efficient, new initiatives are needed to enable us to better capitalize on the economic opportunities presented by a dynamic 21st century travel and tourism industry.

Sec. 2.Visa and Foreign Visitor Processing. (a) The Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism shall, consistent with Presidential Policy Directive 1 or any successor documents and in coordination with the Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary, maintain an interagency process for coordinating the implementation of regulatory improvements and the evaluation of legislative proposals to enhance and expedite travel to and arrival in the United States by foreign nationals, consistent with national security requirements.

(b) The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the heads of such agencies as appropriate, shall develop an implementation plan, within 60 days of the date of this order, describing actions to be undertaken, including those that build upon efforts underway, to achieve the following:

(ii) ensure that 80 percent of nonimmigrant visa applicants are interviewed within 3 weeks of receipt of application, recognizing that resource and security considerations and the need to ensure provision of consular services to U.S. citizens may dictate specific exceptions;

(iii) increase efforts to expand the Visa Waiver Program and travel by nationals of Visa Waiver Program participants; and

This plan should also identify other appropriate measures that will enhance and expedite travel to and arrival in the United States by foreign nationals, consistent with national security requirements, as well as any potential challenges in achieving the stated goals of this subsection.

(c) Within 180 days of the date of this order, and periodically thereafter, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall jointly submit through the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism a report to the President describing the progress on achieving the goals set forth in this section (as well as areas of concern or barriers to achieving those goals) to ensure the country remains secure while increasing travel and tourism to the United States.

(d) The Secretary of Commerce shall establish and maintain a publicly available website that provides updated metrics from across the Federal Government to assist industry and travelers in understanding the current status of the industry and its relevance to the economy, statistics on visa processes in key travel and tourism markets, and entry times into the United States.

Sec. 3.Task Force on Travel and Competitiveness. (a) A Task Force on Travel and Competitiveness (Task Force) is hereby established to develop the National Travel and Tourism Strategy described in this section. The Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior shall serve as Co-Chairs of the Task Force. The Task Force shall also include the heads of the following executive departments and agencies (agencies), or senior level officials designated by them:

(i) Department of State;

(ii) Department of the Treasury;

(iii) Department of Agriculture;

(iv) Department of Labor;

(v) Department of Transportation;

(vi) Department of Homeland Security;

(vii) Army Corps of Engineers;

(viii) Office of the United States Trade Representative;

(ix) Export-Import Bank; and

(x) Other agencies invited to participate by the Task Force Co-Chairs.

(b) The Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior, in consultation with the Directorof the Office of Management and Budget, the Assistant to the President for HomelandSecurity and Counterterrorism, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, andthe Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall coordinate the overall work ofthe Task Force and assist its members in performing the responsibilities described herein.

(c) The Task Force shall develop a National Travel and Tourism Strategy withrecommendations for new policies and initiatives to promote domestic and internationaltravel opportunities throughout the United States with the goal of increasing the UnitedStates market share of worldwide travel, including obtaining a greater share of long-haultravel from Brazil, China, and India. Such recommendations shall include, among otherthings, strategies to promote visits to the United States public lands, waters, shores,monuments, and other iconic American destinations, thereby expanding job creation inthe United States. The Task Force shall also consider recommendations to promote andexpand travel and tourism opportunities in rural communities. In addition, the NationalTravel and Tourism Strategy shall identify any barriers to increasing the United Statesmarket share of worldwide travel, and any other related areas of concern. The TaskForce shall deliver the National Travel and Tourism Strategy to the President within 90days of the date of this order.

(d) The Task Force, through the Secretary of Commerce, shall also coordinate withthe Corporation for Travel Promotion (currently doing businessas Brand USA, a nonprofit corporation established by the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 to promote travel tothe United States) and the Tourism Policy Council, established by the United StatesNational Tourism Organization Act of 1996. The Secretary of Commerce shall serve asthe liaison between the Task Force and the United States Travel and Tourism AdvisoryBoard (Board) chartered by the Secretary and shall consider the Board's advice in his orher role with the Task Force.

(e) The Tourism Policy Council coordinates policies concerning travel promotionand ensures consistency and cooperation among agencies, as set forth in the United StatesNational Tourism Organization Act of 1996. The Task Force shall consult with theTourism Policy Council where appropriate to facilitate the development of the NationalTravel and Tourism Strategy.

Sec. 4.General Provisions. (a) This order shall beimplemented consistent with applicable law, and subject to the availability ofappropriations.

(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the headthereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relatingto budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantiveor procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, itsdepartments, agencies, or entities its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.